U.S. patent application number 14/330549 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-11 for flat wiper blade and coupling method.
The applicant listed for this patent is KCW Corporation. Invention is credited to Tak Min Yi.
Application Number | 20150158463 14/330549 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53185395 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150158463 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yi; Tak Min |
June 11, 2015 |
FLAT WIPER BLADE AND COUPLING METHOD
Abstract
Disclosed is a flat wiper blade that includes: a wiper strip 10
which wipes a wiping surface; at least one guide clip 20 which
passes through and is fitted to the wiper strip 10 in a width
direction of the wiper strip 10; and a guide spring 30 which is
coupled to the wiper strip 10 and the guide clip 20 and supports
the wiper strip 10.
Inventors: |
Yi; Tak Min; (Daegu,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KCW Corporation |
Daegu |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
53185395 |
Appl. No.: |
14/330549 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/250.38 ;
29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60S 1/3879 20130101;
Y10T 29/49826 20150115; B60S 1/3848 20130101; B60S 1/34 20130101;
B60S 1/3875 20130101; B60S 2001/3812 20130101; B60S 1/3808
20130101; B60S 2001/3817 20130101; B60S 2001/3822 20130101; B60S
1/3851 20130101; B60S 2001/3841 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60S 1/38 20060101
B60S001/38; B60S 1/34 20060101 B60S001/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 5, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0150308 |
Claims
1. A flat wiper blade comprising: a wiper strip 10 which wipes a
wiping surface; at least one guide clip 20 which passes through and
is fitted to the wiper strip 10 in a width direction of the wiper
strip 10; and a guide spring 30 which is coupled to the wiper strip
10 and the guide clip 20 and supports the wiper strip 10.
2. The flat wiper blade of claim 1, wherein the wiper strip 10
comprises a base 11 and a wiping lip 12 which is disposed under the
base 11, wherein the base 11 comprises receiving recesses 14 which
are formed on both sides of a width direction central portion of
the base 11 and extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal
direction of the base 11, and wherein the guide spring 30 is fitted
to the receiving recess 14.
3. The flat wiper blade of claim 2, wherein the wiper strip 10
further comprises at least one guide clip hole 15 which is formed
to pass through the receiving recess 14 in the width direction of
the wiper strip 10, and wherein the guide clip 20 passes through
and is fitted to the guide clip hole 15.
4. The flat wiper blade of claim 3, wherein a spoiler is integrally
formed with the wiper strip 10 on both longitudinal ends of the
wiper strip 10.
5. The flat wiper blade of claim 3, further comprising a fixing
guide clip 21 or a fastening guide clip 22, wherein the fixing
guide clip 21 or the fastening guide clip 22 passes through and is
fitted to the guide clip hole 15, and wherein the guide spring 30
comprises a guide clip coupling recess 36 to which the fixing guide
clip 21 or the fastening guide clip 22 is coupled.
6. The flat wiper blade of claim 5, wherein the fixing guide clip
21 or the fastening guide clip 22 comprises at least one pair of
guide spring coupling protrusions 26 formed at both ends thereof,
and wherein the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 is caught by
the guide clip coupling recess 36.
7. The flat wiper blade of claim 6, wherein the guide spring
coupling protrusion 26 is elastically caught by the guide clip
coupling recess 36.
8. The flat wiper blade of claim 1, wherein the guide clip 20
comprises guide spring coupling holes 24 which are formed at both
sides of a central portion of the guide clip 20 in the width
direction of the wiper strip 10 in a state where the guide clip 20
has been coupled to the wiper strip 10 and which extend parallel to
each other in the longitudinal direction of the wiper strip 10, and
wherein the guide spring 30 passes through and is fitted to the
guide spring coupling hole 24 of the guide clip 20.
9. The flat wiper blade of claim 1, wherein the guide clip 20
further comprises a catching portion 29 of which the end is caught
by a catching surface 19 of the wiper strip 10.
10. The flat wiper blade of claim 5, wherein the fixing guide clip
21 or the fastening guide clip 22 further comprises a catching
portion 29 of which the end is caught by a catching surface 19 of
the wiper strip 10.
11. The flat wiper blade of claim 2, wherein the guide spring 30
comprises a first guide spring 31 and a second guide spring 32.
12. The flat wiper blade of claim 4, wherein an upper surface 15a
of the guide clip hole 15 is located higher than an upper surface
14a of the receiving recess 14 and is located lower than a top
surface 11a of the spoiler, wherein a lower surface 15b of the
guide clip hole 15 is located higher than a lower surface 11b of
the base 11, and wherein a height direction gap of the guide clip
hole 15 is larger than that of the receiving recess 14 and is
smaller than that of the base 11.
13. The flat wiper blade of claim 1, further comprises a seating
part 100 which is coupled to the wiper strip 10 in an attachable
and removable manner, and wherein the guide spring 30 is coupled to
the seating part 100.
14. The flat wiper blade of claim 13, wherein the seating part 100
comprises an inner surface 150 and at least one bridge 138 which
connects both sides of a bottom surface of the seating part 100
through the central portion thereof, wherein the wiper strip 10
further comprises at least one seating part bridge receiving recess
18 which is formed on a top surface of a longitudinal central
portion of the wiper strip 10, wherein the bridge 138 is inserted
into the seating part bridge receiving recess 18, and wherein the
guide spring 30 is fitted by passing through between the inner
surface 150 of the seating part 100 and a top surface of the bridge
138.
15. A method for coupling a wiper strip 10, a guide clip 20, a
guide spring 30 and a seating part 100 of a flat wiper blade, the
method comprising: a step in which the at least one guide clip 20
passes through and is fitted to a guide clip hole 15 of the wiper
strip 10; a step in which the guide spring 30 is coupled to the
wiper strip 10 and the guide clip 20; and a step in which the
seating part 100 is coupled to the wiper strip 10 or the guide
spring 30 under a state where the wiper strip 10, the guide clip 20
and the guide spring 30 have been coupled to each other.
16. A method for coupling a wiper strip 10, a guide clip 20, a
guide spring 30 and a seating part 100 of a flat wiper blade, the
method comprising: a step in which the at least one guide clip 20
passes through and is fitted to a guide clip hole 15 of the wiper
strip 10; a step in which the seating part 100 is coupled to the
wiper strip 10; and a step in which the guide spring 30 is coupled
to the wiper strip 10, the guide clip 20 and the seating part 100
under a state where the wiper strip 10, the guide clip 20 and the
seating part 100 have been coupled to each other.
17. A method for coupling a wiper strip 10, a guide clip 20, a
guide spring 30 and a seating part 100 of a flat wiper blade, the
method comprising: a step in which the seating part 100 is coupled
to the wiper strip 10; a step in which the at least one guide clip
20 passes through and is fitted to a guide clip hole 15 of the
wiper strip 10; and a step in which the guide spring 30 is coupled
to the wiper strip 10, the guide clip 20 and the seating part 100
under a state where the wiper strip 10, the guide clip 20 and the
seating part 100 have been coupled to each other.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: a step in which at
least one fixing guide clip 21 or at least one fastening guide clip
22 passes through and is fitted to the guide clip hole 15 of the
wiper strip 10; and a step in which a guide spring coupling
protrusion 26 of either the fixing guide clip 21 or the fastening
guide clip 22 is caught by a guide clip coupling recess 36 of the
guide spring 30.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step in which the at least
one guide clip 20 passes through and is fitted to a guide clip hole
15 of the wiper strip 10 comprises a step in which an end of a
catching portion 29 of the guide clip 20 is caught by a catching
surface 19 of the wiper strip 10.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step in which the seating
part 100 is coupled to the wiper strip 10 comprises a step in which
a bridge 138 of the seating part 100 is inserted into a seating
part bridge receiving recess 18 of the wiper strip 10.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) to Korean Patent Application No.
10-2013-0150308 filed on Dec. 6, 2013, which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a flat wiper blade and a
coupling method.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] In general, a wiper blade removes impurities, snow, rain or
the like when driving and prevents a driver's front sight from
being deteriorated. As a motor drives a link apparatus connected to
a wiper arm, the wiper blade performs a repetitive reciprocating
action in a fan shape.
[0004] The wiper blade includes a long wiper strip in contact with
a glass surface and a guide spring which maintains and supports the
wiper strip in a longitudinal direction of the wiper strip. The
wiper blade including the guide spring is known as a "conventional"
wiper blade in the art. Recently, a wiper blade is being employed
which makes use of one guide spring curved at a predetermined
curvature and formed in the form of a long thin bar. Such a wiper
blade is known as a flat wiper blade or a flat-bar wiper blade in
the art.
[0005] As compared with the "conventional" wiper blade, the flat
wiper blade has a less height and receives less air resistance.
With a uniform load, the flat wiper blade is also able to cause the
wiper strip to contact with the glass surface. A flat wiper blade
assembly including the flat wiper blade includes an adaptor
disposed in the central portion of the guide spring. The flat wiper
blade assembly is connected to a wiper arm such that the adaptor is
separably connected to the end portion of the wiper arm.
[0006] Among the existing flat wiper blades, there is a flat wiper
blade in which the guide spring and the wiper strip are connected
to each other by using a yoke. The flat wiper blade using the yoke
has the problems that the number of parts becomes larger, and the
guide spring is separated from a spoiler, and the overall height of
the flat wiper blade increases.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need to research a flat wiper blade
that couples a spoiler integrated wiper strip and the guide spring
without using the yoke, thereby minimizing the number of the parts
required for manufacturing the flat wiper blade and reducing the
overall height of the flat wiper blade.
SUMMARY
[0008] One embodiment is a flat wiper blade that includes: a wiper
strip 10 which wipes a wiping surface; at least one guide clip 20
which passes through and is fitted to the wiper strip 10 in a width
direction of the wiper strip 10; and a guide spring 30 which is
coupled to the wiper strip 10 and the guide clip 20 and supports
the wiper strip 10.
[0009] The wiper strip 10 may include a base 11 and a wiping lip 12
which is disposed under the base 11. The base 11 may include
receiving recesses 14 which are formed on both sides of a width
direction central portion of the base 11 and extend parallel to
each other in the longitudinal direction of the base 11. The guide
spring 30 may be fitted to the receiving recess 14.
[0010] The wiper strip 10 may include at least one guide clip hole
15 which is formed to pass through the receiving recess 14 in the
width direction of the wiper strip 10. The guide clip 20 may pass
through and be fitted to the guide clip hole 15.
[0011] A spoiler may be integrally formed with the wiper strip 10
on both longitudinal ends of the wiper strip 10.
[0012] The flat wiper blade may further include a fixing guide clip
21 or a fastening guide clip 22. The fixing guide clip 21 or the
fastening guide clip 22 may pass through and be fitted to the guide
clip hole 15. The guide spring 30 may include a guide clip coupling
recess 36 to which the fixing guide clip 21 or the fastening guide
clip 22 is coupled.
[0013] The fixing guide clip 21 or the fastening guide clip 22 may
include at least one pair of guide spring coupling protrusions 26
formed at both ends thereof. The guide spring coupling protrusion
26 may be caught by the guide clip coupling recess 36.
[0014] The guide spring coupling protrusion 26 may be elastically
caught by the guide clip coupling recess 36.
[0015] The guide clip 20 may include guide spring coupling holes 24
which are formed at both sides of a central portion of the guide
clip 20 in the width direction of the wiper strip 10 in a state
where the guide clip 20 has been coupled to the wiper strip 10 and
which extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction
of the wiper strip 10. The guide spring 30 may pass through and be
fitted to the guide spring coupling hole 24 of the guide clip
20.
[0016] The guide clip 20 may further include a catching portion 29
of which the end is caught by a catching surface 19 of the wiper
strip 10.
[0017] The fixing guide clip 21 or the fastening guide clip 22 may
further include a catching portion 29 of which the end is caught by
a catching surface 19 of the wiper strip 10.
[0018] The guide spring 30 may include a first guide spring 31 and
a second guide spring 32.
[0019] An upper surface 15a of the guide clip hole 15 may be
located higher than an upper surface 14a of the receiving recess 14
and may be located lower than a top surface 11a of the spoiler. A
lower surface 15b of the guide clip hole 15 may be located higher
than a lower surface 11b of the base 11. A height direction gap of
the guide clip hole 15 may be larger than that of the receiving
recess 14 and may be smaller than the height of the base 11.
[0020] The flat wiper blade may further include a seating part 100
which is coupled to the wiper strip 10 in an attachable and
removable manner. The guide spring 30 may be coupled to the seating
part 100.
[0021] The seating part 100 may include an inner surface 150 and at
least one bridge 138 which connects both sides of a bottom surface
of the seating part 100 through the central portion thereof. The
wiper strip 10 may further include at least one seating part bridge
receiving recess 18 which is formed on a top surface of a
longitudinal central portion of the wiper strip 10. The bridge 138
may be inserted into the seating part bridge receiving recess 18.
The guide spring 30 may be fitted by passing through between the
inner surface 150 of the seating part 100 and a top surface of the
bridge 138.
[0022] Another embodiment is a method for coupling a wiper strip
10, a guide clip 20, a guide spring 30 and a seating part 100 of a
flat wiper blade. The method includes: a step in which the at least
one guide clip 20 passes through and is fitted to a guide clip hole
15 of the wiper strip 10; a step in which the guide spring 30 is
coupled to the wiper strip 10 and the guide clip 20; and a step in
which the seating part 100 is coupled to the wiper strip 10 or the
guide spring 30 under a state where the wiper strip 10, the guide
clip 20 and the guide spring 30 have been coupled to each
other.
[0023] Further another embodiment is a method for coupling a wiper
strip 10, a guide clip 20, a guide spring 30 and a seating part 100
of a flat wiper blade. The method includes: a step in which the at
least one guide clip 20 passes through and is fitted to a guide
clip hole 15 of the wiper strip 10; a step in which the seating
part 100 is coupled to the wiper strip 10; and a step in which the
guide spring 30 is coupled to the wiper strip 10, the guide clip 20
and the seating part 100 under a state where the wiper strip 10,
the guide clip 20 and the seating part 100 have been coupled to
each other.
[0024] Yet another embodiment is a method for coupling a wiper
strip 10, a guide clip 20, a guide spring 30 and a seating part 100
of a flat wiper blade. The method includes: a step in which the
seating part 100 is coupled to the wiper strip 10; a step in which
the at least one guide clip 20 passes through and is fitted to a
guide clip hole 15 of the wiper strip 10; and a step in which the
guide spring 30 is coupled to the wiper strip 10, the guide clip 20
and the seating part 100 under a state where the wiper strip 10,
the guide clip 20 and the seating part 100 have been coupled to
each other.
[0025] The method may further include: a step in which at least one
fixing guide clip 21 or at least one fastening guide clip 22 passes
through and is fitted to the guide clip hole 15 of the wiper strip
10; and a step in which a guide spring coupling protrusion 26 of
either the fixing guide clip 21 or the fastening guide clip 22 is
caught by a guide clip coupling recess 36 of the guide spring
30.
[0026] The step in which the at least one guide clip 20 passes
through and is fitted to a guide clip hole 15 of the wiper strip 10
may include a step in which an end of a catching portion 29 of the
guide clip 20 is caught by a catching surface 19 of the wiper strip
10.
[0027] The step in which the seating part 100 is coupled to the
wiper strip 10 may include a step in which a bridge 138 of the
seating part 100 is inserted into a seating part bridge receiving
recess 18 of the wiper strip 10.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall
configuration of a flat wiper blade assembly;
[0029] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing that the flat
wiper blade assembly of FIG. 1 has been disassembled;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one end of a wiper
strip of FIG. 2;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the other end of the
wiper strip of FIG. 2;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the central portion of
the wiper strip of FIG. 2;
[0033] FIG. 6a is an enlarged side view of the wiper strip of FIG.
2 as viewed from the position "A";
[0034] FIG. 6b is an enlarged side view of the wiper strip of FIG.
2 as viewed from the position "B";
[0035] FIG. 6c is an enlarged side view of the wiper strip of FIG.
2 as viewed from the position "C";
[0036] FIG. 7a is a perspective view showing a guide clip of FIG.
2;
[0037] FIG. 7b is a perspective view showing a fixing guide clip of
FIG. 2;
[0038] FIG. 7c is a perspective view showing a fastening guide clip
of FIG. 2;
[0039] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a seating part of FIG.
2;
[0040] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a guide spring of FIG.
2;
[0041] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing that the wiper strip,
the guide clip and the fixing guide clip of FIG. 2 have been
coupled to each other;
[0042] FIG. 11a is a front cross sectional view taken along line
A-A' shown in FIG. 10;
[0043] FIG. 11b is a front cross sectional view taken along line
B-B' shown in FIG. 10;
[0044] FIG. 12 is a perspective view for describing a coupling
process of the wiper strip and the seating part of FIG. 2;
[0045] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a process in which the
guide spring is fitted by passing through a receiving recess of the
wiper strip and a guide spring coupling hole of the guide clip and
by passing through between an inner surface of the seating part and
a top surface of a bridge, under the state where the wiper strip,
the guide clip, the fixing guide clip and the seating part of FIG.
2 have been coupled to each other;
[0046] FIG. 14 is a top cross sectional view obtained by cutting
horizontally a height direction central portion of the guide spring
in the width direction of the flat wiper blade, under the state
where the wiper strip, the fixing guide clip and the guide spring
of FIG. 2 have been coupled to each other;
[0047] FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view showing a process in
which the fastening guide clip of FIG. 2 passes through and is
fitted to a guide clip hole of the wiper strip;
[0048] FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view showing a state where
the wiper strip, the guide spring and the fastening guide clip of
FIG. 2 have been coupled to each other;
[0049] FIG. 17 is a rear view showing a state where the wiper
strip, the guide clip, the fixing guide clip, the seating part, the
guide spring and the fastening guide clip of FIG. 2 have been
coupled to each other;
[0050] FIG. 18a is a front cross sectional view taken along line
A-A' shown in FIG. 17;
[0051] FIG. 18b is a front cross sectional view taken along line
B-B' shown in FIG. 17;
[0052] FIG. 18c is a front cross sectional view taken along line
C-C' shown in FIG. 17;
[0053] FIG. 18d is a front cross sectional view taken along line
D-D' shown in FIG. 17;
[0054] FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view obtained by vertically
cutting a width direction central portion of the flat wiper blade
in the longitudinal direction of the flat wiper blade, under the
state where the wiper strip, the guide clip, the seating part and
the guide spring of FIG. 2 have been coupled to each other;
[0055] FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a process in which the
guide spring passes through and is fitted to the receiving recess
of the wiper strip, and the guide spring coupling holes of the
guide clip and the fixing guide clip, under the state where the
wiper strip, the guide clip and the fixing guide clip of FIG. 2
have been coupled to each other; and
[0056] FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a process in which the
seating part is coupled, under the state where the wiper strip, the
guide clip, the fixing guide clip, the guide spring and the
fastening guide clip of FIG. 2 have been coupled to each other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0057] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
components of the present invention, detailed descriptions of what
can be clearly understood and easily carried into practice through
a prior art by those skilled in the art will be omitted to avoid
making the subject matter of the present invention unclear.
Embodiment
[0058] Hereafter, first, the overall structure of a flat wiper
blade assembly 1 will be described.
[0059] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall
configuration of the flat wiper blade assembly. FIG. 2 is an
exploded perspective view showing that the flat wiper blade
assembly of FIG. 1 has been disassembled.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 1, the flat wiper blade assembly 1
according to the present invention includes a flat wiper blade 2
contacting closely with the glass surface of a vehicle and includes
an adaptor 3 assembled to the central portion of the flat wiper
blade 2 so as to connect the flat wiper blade 2 to a wiper arm (not
shown).
[0061] Hereafter, the flat wiper blade 2 will be described.
[0062] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flat wiper blade 2 includes a
wiper strip 10 which wipes a glass surface of a vehicle with a
close contact with the glass surface of the vehicle and on which a
spoiler is integrally formed on both longitudinal ends of the wiper
strip, at least one guide clip 20 which passes through and is
fitted to the wiper strip 10 in a width direction of the wiper
strip 10, a guide spring 30 which is disposed on both sides of the
wiper strip 10 and supports the wiper strip 10, and a seating part
100 for coupling the adaptor 3 to both the wiper strip 10 and the
guide spring 30.
[0063] Here, although the foregoing has described that the separate
adaptor 3 which is distinguished from the seating part 100 is
included, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this.
The seating part 100 may be integrally formed with the adaptor 3.
That is, the seating part 100 may include the adaptor 3.
[0064] The flat wiper blade 2 is connected to the front end of the
wiper arm and receives a pressing force from the wiper arm with
respect to the glass surface of the vehicle. The wiper arm rotates
reciprocatively at a predetermined angle by a wiper motor (not
shown). Accordingly, the flat wiper blade 2 wipes the glass surface
(wiping surface) of the vehicle within the predetermined angle.
[0065] Hereafter, the wiper strip 10 will be described.
[0066] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one end of a wiper
strip of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the other end
of the wiper strip of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing
the central portion of the wiper strip of FIG. 2. FIG. 6a is an
enlarged side view of the wiper strip of FIG. 2 as viewed from the
position "A". FIG. 6b is an enlarged side view of the wiper strip
of FIG. 2 as viewed from the position "B". FIG. 6c is an enlarged
side view of the wiper strip of FIG. 2 as viewed from the position
"C".
[0067] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the wipers strip 10 includes a
base 11 and a wiping lip 12 which is disposed under the base 11 and
contacts directly with and wipes the glass surface. The wiper strip
10 as a whole has a long thin shape in the major axial direction of
the flat wiper blade 2 and is made of an elastic material like a
rubber material or made of an elastic composite material. The wiper
strip 10 is disposed to contact with the glass of the vehicle in a
sliding manner and removes impurities of the glass surface.
[0068] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the wiper strip 10 is supported
by the guide spring 30 disposed on both sides of the base 11. The
base 11 and the wiping lip 12 continuously extend in the
longitudinal direction of the wiper strip 10.
[0069] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, receiving recesses 14 in which
the guide spring 30 is received in a sliding manner are formed on
both sides of the width direction central portion of the base 11
and extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction
thereof. Here, while the receiving recess 14 at one end of the
wiper strip 10 may be open (see FIG. 3), the receiving recess 14 at
the other end of the wiper strip 10 may be closed to limit the
movement of the guide spring 30 (see FIG. 4).
[0070] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, on both longitudinal ends of the
wiper strip 10, the spoiler may be integrally formed with the base
11 of the wiper strip 10. However, the flat wiper blade 2 of the
present invention does not necessarily include the spoiler, and the
spoiler is not necessarily formed integrally with the base 11 of
the wiper strip 10. Therefore, the flat wiper blade 2 of the
present invention may not include the spoiler or a separately
formed spoiler may be coupled on the wiper strip 10 by publicly
known arts.
[0071] Meanwhile, when the spoiler is integrally formed on both
longitudinal ends of the wiper strip 10, there is no need to
manufacture a separate part of the spoiler which is coupled to the
wiper strip 10, the manufacturing process of the flat wiper blade 2
becomes simpler and manufacturing cost is reduced. Also, the
overall height of the flat wiper blade 2 can be reduced.
[0072] Referring back to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6a and 6b, the wiper strip
10 may include at least one guide clip hole 15 which is formed to
pass through the receiving recess 14 in the width direction of the
wiper strip 10 and allows a below-described guide clip 20 to be
fitted thereto. Here, an upper surface 15a of the guide clip hole
15 may be located higher than an upper surface 14a of the receiving
recess 14 and may be located lower than the top surface 11a of the
spoiler formed on the base 11. A lower surface 15b of the guide
clip hole 15 may be located lower than or on the same level as a
lower surface 14b of the receiving recess 14 and may be located
higher than a lower surface 11b of the base 11.
[0073] Therefore, a height direction gap of the guide clip hole 15
may be larger than that of the receiving recess 14 and may be
smaller than the height of the base 11.
[0074] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6c, in the base 11 of the wiper
strip 10, at least one seating part bridge receiving recess 18 into
which a below-described bridge 138 of the seating part 100 is
inserted may be formed on the top surface of the longitudinal
central portion of the wiper strip 10. Here, a lower surface 18b of
the one seating part bridge receiving recess 18 may be located
lower than the lower surface 14b of the receiving recess 14.
[0075] Hereafter, the guide clip 20 will be described.
[0076] FIG. 7a is a perspective view showing the guide clip of FIG.
2. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing that the wiper strip, the
guide clip and the fixing guide clip of FIG. 2 have been coupled to
each other. FIG. 11a is a front cross sectional view taken along
line A-A' shown in FIG. 10.
[0077] The guide clip 20 passes through and is fitted to the guide
clip hole 15 of the wiper strip 10. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7a,
10 and 11a, a guide spring coupling hole 24 may be formed in the
guide clip 20. The guide spring coupling hole 24 is formed on both
sides of the central portion of the guide clip 20 in the width
direction of the wiper strip 10 in the state where the guide clip
20 has been fitted to the guide clip hole 15. The guide spring
coupling holes 24 extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal
direction of the wiper strip 10.
[0078] Hereafter, a fixing guide clip 21 and a fastening guide clip
22 will be described.
[0079] FIG. 7b is a perspective view showing the fixing guide clip
of FIG. 2. FIG. 7c is a perspective view showing the fastening
guide clip of FIG. 2. FIG. 11b is a front cross sectional view
taken along line B-B' shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 17 is a rear view
showing a state where the wiper strip, the guide clip, the fixing
guide clip, the seating part, the guide spring and the fastening
guide clip of FIG. 2 have been coupled to each other. FIG. 18d is a
front cross sectional view taken along line D-D' shown in FIG.
17.
[0080] The fixing guide clip 21 and the fastening guide clip 22
pass through and are fitted to the guide clip hole 15 of the wiper
strip 10. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7b, 7c, 10, 11b, 17 and 18d,
at least one pair of guide spring coupling protrusions 26 which is
caught by a below-described guide clip coupling recess 36 of the
guide spring 30 may be formed at both ends of the fixing guide clip
21 and the fastening guide clip 22 in the width direction of the
wiper strip 10 in the state where the fixing guide clip 21 and the
fastening guide clip 22 have been fitted to the guide clip hole
15.
[0081] Although the drawings show that the fixing guide clip 21 and
the fastening guide clip 22 are fitted respectively to the guide
clip hole 15 which is located at one and the other ends of the
wiper strip 10, the fixing guide clip 21 and the fastening guide
clip 22 may be fitted to any one of a plurality of the guide clip
holes 15 irrespective of the location of the guide clip hole
15.
[0082] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 17 and 18d, the guide
clip 20, the fixing guide clip 21 and the fastening guide clip 22
may further include a catching portion 29 of which the end is
caught by a catching surface 19 of the wiper strip 10 in the state
where the guide clip 20 has been fitted to the guide clip hole
15.
[0083] Specifically, the catching portion 29 is formed on an upper
surface of at least one of both ends located at both sides of the
central portion of the guide clip 20 in the width direction of the
wiper strip 10 in the state where the guide clip 20 has been fitted
to the guide clip hole 15. Then, the end of the catching portion 29
may be caught by the catching surface 19 located on the side of the
upper portion of the wiper strip 10.
[0084] However, the catching portion may have a structure different
from the above-described structure. For example, the catching
portion may be formed on the central portion of the upper or lower
surface of the guide clip 20, the fixing guide clip 21 or the
fastening guide clip 22, and then the catching surface
corresponding to this may be formed on the central portion of the
upper or lower surface of the guide clip hole 15. Otherwise, the
catching portion may be formed at both ends of the upper surface
15a or lower surface 15b of the guide clip hole 15 in the width
direction of the wiper strip 10, and then the catching surface
corresponding to this may be formed on the upper or lower surface
of the guide clip 20, the fixing guide clip 21 or the fastening
guide clip 22.
[0085] Hereafter, the seating part 100 will be described.
[0086] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a seating part of FIG.
2. FIG. 12 is a perspective view for describing a coupling process
of the wiper strip and the seating part of FIG. 2.
[0087] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 12, the seating part 100 has a
configuration for connecting the wiper strip 10, the guide spring
30 and the adaptor 3. An inner surface 150 of the seating part 100
comes in contact with the top surface of the longitudinal central
portion of the wiper strip 10 and then is coupled to the wiper
strip 10. However, the seating part 100 may be configured such that
the inner surface 150 of the seating part 100 comes in contact with
the top surface of the longitudinal central portion of the guide
spring 30, and then is coupled to the guide spring 30.
[0088] The seating part 100 may include the at least one bridge 138
which connects both sides of the bottom surface of the seating part
100 through the central portion.
[0089] Hereafter, the guide spring 30 will be described.
[0090] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a guide spring of FIG.
2. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a process in which the
guide spring is fitted by passing through a receiving recess of the
wiper strip and a guide spring coupling hole of the guide clip and
by passing through between an inner surface of the seating part and
a top surface of a bridge, under the state where the wiper strip,
the guide clip, the fixing guide clip and the seating part of FIG.
2 have been coupled to each other.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 9, the guide spring 30 has a long thin
shape in the major axial direction of the flat wiper blade 2. The
guide spring 30 may be comprised of a first guide spring 31 and a
second guide spring 32.
[0092] Referring to FIGS. 2, 9 and 13, in outer sides of both ends
of the guide spring 30 in the width direction of the wiper strip
10, the guide clip coupling recess 36 which is concave in the width
direction of the wiper strip 10 may be formed in a position where
the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 of either the fixing guide
clip 21 or the fastening guide clip 22 can be inserted.
[0093] When a pressing force is applied from the wiper arm, the
pressing force is distributed to the wiper strip 10 through the
guide spring 30. Here, the pressing force is distributed in the
longitudinal direction of the wiper strip 10 by the guide spring
30. Accordingly, the guide spring 30 should have elasticity and
rigidity to maintain the shape of the wiper strip 10.
[0094] Hereafter, the coupling method for the flat wiper blade 2
will be sequentially described.
[0095] FIG. 14 is a top cross sectional view obtained by cutting
horizontally a height direction central portion of the guide spring
in the width direction of the flat wiper blade, under the state
where the wiper strip, the fixing guide clip and the guide spring
of FIG. 13 have been coupled to each other. FIG. 15 is a partial
perspective view showing a process in which the fastening guide
clip of FIG. 2 passes through and is fitted to a guide clip hole of
the wiper strip. FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view showing a
state where the wiper strip, the guide spring and the fastening
guide clip of FIG. 2 have been coupled to each other. FIG. 18a is a
front cross sectional view taken along line A-A' shown in FIG. 17.
FIG. 18b is a front cross sectional view taken along line B-B'
shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 18c is a front cross sectional view taken
along line C-C' shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view
obtained by vertically cutting a width direction central portion of
the flat wiper blade in the longitudinal direction of the flat
wiper blade, under the state where the wiper strip, the guide clip,
the seating part and the guide spring of FIG. 2 have been coupled
to each other.
[0096] Referring to FIGS. 2, 10 and 11, the guide clip 20 and the
fixing guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to the guide clip
hole 15 of the wiper strip 10 respectively. When the guide clip 20
and the fixing guide clip 21 are fitted to the guide clip hole 15,
the catching portions 29 of the guide clip 20 and the fixing guide
clip 21 and/or a contact area with the guide clip hole 15 are
elastically transformed, so that the guide clip 20 and the fixing
guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to the guide clip hole
15, and then the catching portion 29 and/or the contact area with
the guide clip hole 15 are restored to the original state by
elasticity. As a result, the end of the catching portion 29 may be
caught by the catching surface 19 of the wiper strip 10.
[0097] Here, although it has been described that the end of the
catching portion 29 is elastically caught by the catching surface
19 of the wiper strip 10, the present invention is not necessarily
limited to this. The end of the catching portion 29 may be caught
by the catching surface 19 of the wiper strip 10 through a separate
process.
[0098] Therefore, relative positions in the width direction of the
wiper strip 10 of the guide clip 20 and the fixing guide clip 21
which pass through and are fitted to the guide clip hole 15 are
fixed.
[0099] Also, referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, after the guide clip 20
and the fixing guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to a
plurality of the guide clip holes 15 respectively, the bridge 138
of the seating part 100 is inserted into the seating part bridge
receiving recess 18 of the wiper strip 10.
[0100] However, in the embodiment, it is not necessarily required
to sequentially perform the step in which the guide clip 20 and the
fixing guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to a plurality of
the guide clip hole 15 respectively and the step in which the
bridge 138 of the seating part 100 is inserted into the seating
part bridge receiving recess 18 of the wiper strip 10. It can be
considered that the two steps may be performed in reverse
order.
[0101] Next, referring to FIGS. 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 18c and 19,
the guide clip 20 and the fixing guide clip 21 pass through and are
fitted to a plurality of the guide clip hole 15 respectively, and
the bridge 138 of the seating part 100 is inserted into the seating
part bridge receiving recess 18 of the wiper strip 10. Then,
through one end of the wiper strip 10, in which the receiving
recess 14 is formed to be open, the guide spring 30 which may be
comprised of a first guide spring 31 and a second guide spring 32
passes through the receiving recess 14 of the wiper strip 10 and
the guide spring coupling holes 24 of the guide clip 20 and the
fixing guide clip 21 and passes through between the inner surface
150 of the seating part 100 and the top surface of the bridge 138,
and is fitted to both sides of the width direction central portion
of the wiper strip 10. Therefore, the guide clip 20 couples the
wiper strip 10 to the guide spring 30. Also, due to the wiper strip
10 fitted between the inner surface 150 of the seating part 100 and
the top surface of the bridge 138 and fitted to the receiving
recess 14 of the wiper strip 10, the seating part 100, the wiper
strip 10 and the guide spring 30 are prevented from being
vertically separated from each other.
[0102] Referring to FIGS. 7b, 11b and 14, the guide spring coupling
protrusion 26 of the fixing guide clip 21 is elastically
transformed to the outside of the fixing guide clip 21, and then
the guide spring 30 passes through and is fitted to the guide
spring coupling hole 24. Then, the guide spring coupling protrusion
26 is restored to the original state by elasticity, so that the
guide spring 30 can be fitted to the guide clip coupling recess
36.
[0103] Therefore, referring to FIGS. 4 and 14, due to the other end
of the wiper strip 10, in which the receiving recess 14 is formed
to be closed, and the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 of the
fixing guide clip 21 coupled to the guide clip hole 15 of the wiper
strip 10, the guide spring 30 is prevented from further moving in
the fitting direction. Due to the guide spring coupling protrusion
26 of the fixing guide clip 21 coupled to the guide clip hole 15 of
the wiper strip 10, the guide spring 30 is also prevented from
moving in an opposite direction to the fitting direction.
[0104] Next, referring to FIGS. 7c, 15, 16 and 18d, the guide clip
20 and the fixing guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to a
plurality of the guide clip hole 15 respectively, and the bridge
138 of the seating part 100 is inserted into the seating part
bridge receiving recess 18 of the wiper strip 10. Subsequently,
through one end of the wiper strip 10, in which the receiving
recess 14 is formed to be open, the guide spring 30 passes through
the receiving recess 14 of the wiper strip 10 and the guide spring
coupling holes 24 of the guide clip 20 and the fixing guide clip 21
and passes through between the inner surface 150 of the seating
part 100 and the top surface of the bridge 138, and is fitted to
both sides of the width direction central portion of the wiper
strip 10. Then, the fastening guide clip 22 passes through and is
fitted to the guide clip hole 15.
[0105] As the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 of the fastening
guide clip 22 is inserted between the top surface of the guide
spring 30 and the top surface of the guide clip hole 15, the guide
spring coupling protrusion 26 of the fastening guide clip 22 and/or
the top surface of the guide clip hole 15 are elastically
transformed, so that the fastening guide clip 22 passes through and
is fitted to the guide clip hole 15. Then, the guide spring
coupling protrusion 26 and and/or the top surface of the guide clip
hole 15 are restored to the original state by elasticity. As a
result, the end of the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 may be
caught by the guide clip coupling recess 36 of the guide spring
30.
[0106] Therefore, due to the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 of
the fastening guide clip 22 coupled to the guide clip hole 15 of
the wiper strip 10, the guide spring 30 is prevented from moving in
the fitting direction and is additionally prevented from moving in
an opposite direction to the fitting direction.
[0107] In the step in which the guide spring 30 is fastened to the
fixing guide clip 21 and the step in which the fastening guide clip
22 passes through and is fitted to the guide clip hole 15, although
it has been described that the end of the guide spring coupling
protrusion 26 of the fixing guide clip 21 and the end of the guide
spring coupling protrusion 26 of the fastening guide clip 22 are
elastically caught by the guide clip coupling recess 36 of the
guide spring 30, the present invention is not necessarily limited
to this. The end of the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 may be
caught by the guide clip coupling recess 36 of the guide spring
30.
[0108] Meanwhile, although it has been described that both the
fixing guide clip 21 and the fastening guide clip 22 have been used
to prevent the longitudinal movement of the guide spring 30, the
present invention is not necessarily limited to this. It is
possible to configure such that only one of the fixing guide clip
21 and the fastening guide clip 22 may be used.
[0109] Also, it is not necessarily to use the guide spring coupling
protrusions 26 of the fixing guide clip 21 and/or the fastening
guide clip 22 and the guide clip coupling recess 36 of the guide
spring 30 in order to prevent the guide spring 30 from moving in
the fitting direction and in an opposite direction to the fitting
direction. Therefore, it is possible to configure such that a
separately formed end cap is coupled to both longitudinal ends of
the guide spring 30 and the wiper strip 10 by publicly known arts,
so that guide spring 30 is prevented from moving in the fitting
direction and in an opposite direction to the fitting
direction.
[0110] As such, referring to FIGS. 1 to 19, in the flat wiper blade
2 of the present invention, the spoiler integrated wiper strip is
coupled to the guide spring by using a plurality of the guide clips
instead of a yoke, thereby minimizing the number of the parts
required for manufacturing the flat wiper blade and reducing the
overall height of the flat wiper blade.
[0111] Additionally, the coupling method of the flat wiper blade 2
of the present invention also includes as follows the guide clip 20
and the fixing guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to the
guide clip hole 15 of the wiper strip 10 respectively, and the
guide spring 30 is fitted to the receiving recess 14 of the wiper
strip 10 and the guide spring coupling holes 24 of the guide clip
20 and the fixing guide clip 21. Subsequently, after the fastening
guide clip 22 is fitted to the guide clip hole 15, the seating part
100 is coupled to the wiper strip 10 and/or the guide spring 30.
Hereafter, this coupling method of the flat wiper blade 2 will be
sequentially described.
[0112] FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a process in which the
guide spring passes through and is fitted to the receiving recess
of the wiper strip, and the guide spring coupling holes of the
guide clip and the fixing guide clip, under the state where the
wiper strip, the guide clip and the fixing guide clip of FIG. 2
have been coupled to each other. FIG. 21 is a perspective view
showing a process in which the seating part is coupled, under the
state where the wiper strip, the guide clip, the fixing guide clip,
the guide spring and the fastening guide clip of FIG. 2 have been
coupled to each other.
[0113] Referring to FIGS. 2, 10 and 11, the guide clip 20 and the
fixing guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to the guide clip
hole 15 of the wiper strip 10 respectively. When the guide clip 20
and the fixing guide clip 21 are fitted to the guide clip hole 15,
the catching portions 29 of the guide clip 20 and the fixing guide
clip 21 and/or a contact area with the guide clip hole 15 are
elastically transformed, so that the guide clip 20 and the fixing
guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to the guide clip hole
15, and then the catching portion 29 and/or the contact area with
the guide clip hole 15 are restored to the original state by
elasticity. As a result, the end of the catching portion 29 may be
caught by the catching surface 19 of the wiper strip 10.
[0114] Here, although it has been described that the end of the
catching portion 29 is elastically caught by the catching surface
19 of the wiper strip 10, the present invention is not necessarily
limited to this. The end of the catching portion 29 may be caught
by the catching surface 19 of the wiper strip 10 through a separate
process.
[0115] Therefore, relative positions in the width direction of the
wiper strip 10 of the guide clip 20 and the fixing guide clip 21
which pass through and are fitted to the guide clip hole 15 are
fixed.
[0116] Next, referring to FIGS. 3, 9, 11 and 20, the guide clip 20
and the fixing guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to a
plurality of the guide clip holes 15 respectively, and then through
one end of the wiper strip 10, in which the receiving recess 14 is
formed to be open, the guide spring 30 which may be comprised of
the first guide spring 31 and the second guide spring 32 passes
through the receiving recess 14 of the wiper strip 10 and the guide
spring coupling holes 24 of the guide clip 20 and the fixing guide
clip 21 and is fitted to both sides of the width direction central
portion of the wiper strip 10. Therefore, the guide clip 20 couples
the wiper strip 10 to the guide spring 30.
[0117] Referring to FIGS. 7b, 11b and 14, the guide spring coupling
protrusion 26 of the fixing guide clip 21 is elastically
transformed to the outside of the fixing guide clip 21, and then
the guide spring 30 passes through and is fitted to the guide
spring coupling hole 24. Then, the guide spring coupling protrusion
26 is restored to the original state by elasticity, so that the
guide spring 30 can be fitted to the guide clip coupling recess
36.
[0118] Therefore, referring to FIGS. 4 and 14, due to the other end
of the wiper strip 10, in which the receiving recess 14 is formed
to be closed, and the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 of the
fixing guide clip 21 coupled to the guide clip hole 15 of the wiper
strip 10, the guide spring 30 is prevented from further moving in
the fitting direction. Due to the guide spring coupling protrusion
26 of the fixing guide clip 21 coupled to the guide clip hole 15 of
the wiper strip 10, the guide spring 30 is also prevented from
moving in an opposite direction to the fitting direction.
[0119] Next, referring to FIGS. 7c, 15, 16 and 18d, the guide clip
20 and the fixing guide clip 21 pass through and are fitted to a
plurality of the guide clip hole 15 respectively. Subsequently,
through one end of the wiper strip 10, in which the receiving
recess 14 is formed to be open, the guide spring 30 passes through
the receiving recess 14 of the wiper strip 10 and the guide spring
coupling holes 24 of the guide clip 20 and the fixing guide clip
21, and is fitted to both sides of the width direction central
portion of the wiper strip 10. Then, the fastening guide clip 22
passes through and is fitted to the guide clip hole 15.
[0120] As the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 of the fastening
guide clip 22 is inserted between the top surface of the guide
spring 30 and the top surface of the guide clip hole 15, the guide
spring coupling protrusion 26 of the fastening guide clip 22 and/or
the top surface of the guide clip hole 15 are elastically
transformed, so that the fastening guide clip 22 passes through and
is fitted to the guide clip hole 15. Then, the guide spring
coupling protrusion 26 and and/or the top surface of the guide clip
hole 15 are restored to the original state by elasticity. As a
result, the end of the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 may be
caught by the guide clip coupling recess 36 of the guide spring
30.
[0121] Therefore, due to the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 of
the fastening guide clip 22 coupled to the guide clip hole 15 of
the wiper strip 10, the guide spring 30 is prevented from moving in
the fitting direction and is additionally prevented from moving in
an opposite direction to the fitting direction.
[0122] In the step in which the guide spring 30 is fastened to the
fixing guide clip 21 and the step in which the fastening guide clip
22 passes through and is fitted to the guide clip hole 15, although
it has been described that the end of the guide spring coupling
protrusion 26 of the fixing guide clip 21 and the end of the guide
spring coupling protrusion 26 of the fastening guide clip 22 are
elastically caught by the guide clip coupling recess 36 of the
guide spring 30, the present invention is not necessarily limited
to this. The end of the guide spring coupling protrusion 26 may be
caught by the guide clip coupling recess 36 of the guide spring
30.
[0123] Meanwhile, although it has been described that both the
fixing guide clip 21 and the fastening guide clip 22 have been used
to prevent the longitudinal movement of the guide spring 30, the
present invention is not necessarily limited to this. It is
possible to configure such that only one of the fixing guide clip
21 and the fastening guide clip 22 may be used.
[0124] Also, it is not necessarily to use the guide spring coupling
protrusions 26 of the fixing guide clip 21 and/or the fastening
guide clip 22 and the guide clip coupling recess 36 of the guide
spring 30 in order to prevent the guide spring 30 from moving in
the fitting direction and in an opposite direction to the fitting
direction. Therefore, it is possible to configure such that a
separately formed end cap is coupled to both longitudinal ends of
the guide spring 30 and the wiper strip 10 by publicly known arts,
so that guide spring 30 is prevented from moving in the fitting
direction and in an opposite direction to the fitting
direction.
[0125] Next, referring to FIG. 21, the seating part 100 is coupled
to the wiper strip 10 and/or the guide spring 30. Here, there is no
limit to the method of coupling the seating part 100 to the wiper
strip 10 and/or the guide spring 30. It can be considered that the
seating part 100 may be coupled to the wiper strip 10 and/or the
guide spring 30 by publicly known arts.
[0126] The features, structures and effects and the like described
in the embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the
present invention and are not necessarily limited to one
embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects and the
like provided in each embodiment can be combined or modified in
other embodiments by those skilled in the art to which the
embodiments belong. Therefore, contents related to the combination
and modification should be construed to be included in the scope of
the present invention.
[0127] Although the embodiments of the present invention were
described above, these are just examples and do not limit the
present invention. Further, the present invention may be changed
and modified in various ways, without departing from the essential
features of the present invention, by those skilled in the art.
That is, the components described in detail in the embodiments of
the present invention may be modified. Further, differences due to
the modification and application should be construed as being
included in the scope and spirit of the present invention, which is
described in the accompanying claims.
* * * * *